Richard l



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD L. HINSDALE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELASTIC EXERCISINGMACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 9,695, dated, May 3, 1853.

To LZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD L. I-IINsDALE, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented, made, andapplied to use certain new and useful improvements in elasticexercisingsmachines, which consist of elastic bows applied in such amanner as to sustain the person exercising and tend to strengthen themuscles of the body and expandthe chest of the operator; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure l,is a perspective view of the machine as applied to the exercising of thearms and body horizontally. Fig. 2, is an end perspective view of thebows as applied to the exercising of the muscles and body vertically,and Fig. 3, is a cross section of the spring platform on which theperson exercising stands.

The like parts of reference denote the same parts.

a, a, is a frame or may be a platform or floor receiving the posts I),which are to be supported by any number of proper braces c.

CZ, (Z, are two bows made of wood, metal or other substance with therequisite strength and elasticity.

l, is the string of the bows, and e, is a handle fixed on the string ofeach bow and secured by knots on each side, so that the handle e, canturn on the middle of the string.

Each bow cl, passes through a hub f, where it is secured but allowed torotate by collars or pins on each side of the hub.

2, is a short stud o-r ournal on the hub f,

. by which the hub is attached to the uprights b, the journal 2 beingentered through holes and secured by a pin at the height required.

3, 3, are journal boxes formed by a notch cut vertically into theinclined braces, which receive the shaft t, connected to a platform 5,see Fig. 3. This platform 5, has recesses in its upper surface receivinghelical expansive springs 6, that take and support the spring platformg, which is formed as a box, inclosing the sides of the platform 5,-

and having slots in its sides to pass the shaft 4.

The operation of this part is that the user stands on the platform g,takes the handles e, in his hands, and coming into an inclined positionbackward his weight tends to bend the bows (Z, and on throwing himselfforward the bows CZ, partially rotate in the hubs 7, the handles e,passing clear of hubs, and the weight of the user being now on the otherside of the center line the bows and hubs 7 turn on the journals 2,coming to an inclined position on the opposite side of the posts Z), andthe weight of the person is supported by his arms as they are extendedbackward, tending to expand the chest. This alternating backward andforward motion can be repeated as often as desired, the platform gspringing by the weight of the person and also vibrating on the shaft4:, as the party throws himself back and forth. This style of exercisemay be too violent for some persons, and to partially support the body,I place what I term reciprocaters either before or behind the person orboth, so that a portion of their weight can be borne by these, either byleaning the chest or back against them, and from the spring of thesereciprocators a vibration to the body can be obtained, and in case a bowor string breaks these reciprocators support the body. In Fig. l one ofthese reciprocators in shown in place, the other laid down out of theway and in Fig. 2 one reciprocator is removed to show the operation ofthe spring platform more clearly.

71|, 71., are two side pieces jointed at 7 to the posts forming a frameover which a cloth or similar pad k, is stretched to receive the chestor back of the person exercising.

i, z', are india rubber or similar springs of the requisite strengthattached to the posts Z), and by buckles and straps 8, are connected tothe ends of the frame h., so as to give the motions and e'ect thepurposes before set forth.

The weight A, A, may be applied to keep the platform ar., steady whereit is not attached to the floor.

To use the second part of my apparatus the bows cl and hubs f may beremoved or the journal 2, entered from the outside, as in Fig. 2. Thespring platform g, is to be lifted up out of its journals 3, and placedon the floor see Fig. 2, the thickness of the platform 5, beingsuflicient to allow the springing while in this position, and thereciprocators L., may be lowered out of the way or to any desired pointat which they 1 ever been applied solely to the purposes of 25 may beretained by clamp screws or similar l means to the braces o.

Z, Z, are brackets, the lower ends beingset in sockets in the tops ofthe posts These brackets receive through their upper ends bows m,similar to the bows d, I being the string and n, the handle in themiddle. Vhen these are to be used the brackets Z, are to be turnedtoward the center of the machine, and the party exercising with thesebows stands on the spring platform g, .and takingI hold of the handlesn, exercises himself vertically, as shown in Fig. 2.

The bows mi, may be supported by a frame instead of the brackets Z.

By having the height of the platform g, from the shaft 4 increased thisVibrating spring platform will describe a greater arc of a circle andgive the person exercising more motion as he throws himself backward andforward while holding on to the handles e.

I am not aware that the elastic bows have exercising and aside from thedischarge of arrows.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is*- l. I claim the bows eZ,on their hubs f, and the strings l and handles e, either alone or incombination with the spring and vie bratingplatform g as described andshown.

2. I claim the elastic reciprocators Zt, made and operating as describedand shown.

3. I claim the bows m, on the brackets Z or their equivalents eitheralone or in combination with the spring platform g, for the purposes ofvertical exercise as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this seventh dayof September, one thousand eight hundred and fiftytwo.

R. L. HINSDALEo Witnesses:

PETER VAN SCHAACK., LEMUEL W. SnnnnLL.

